But Pakistani officials said school buildings in the Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak and Hangu districts would be opened as shelters for people fleeing the conflict.

Pakistan on Sunday launched a military operation in North Waziristan, a restive province near the border with Afghanistan,in an attempt to "finish off" militants in the area "once and for all," Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told CNN. The Pakistani Taliban is among the targets.